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Upper back chub?! Help
Getting in Shape
Upper back chub?! Help
Whether you’re toning up or slimming down, this board is full of great tips, advice, and inspiration. You can also get answers to your fitness questions every Friday from The Knot's fitness guru, certified personal trainer Doug Rice.
Hey guys, I've managed to lose a little over 120 lbs over the last several years. This past weekend I went in and tried on wedding dresses. I'm looking at a strapless, sweetheart neckline
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Getting in Shape
Upper back chub?! Help
Whether you’re toning up or slimming down, this board is full of great tips, advice, and inspiration. You can also get answers to your fitness questions every Friday from The Knot's fitness guru, certified personal trainer Doug Rice.
Hey guys, I've managed to lose a little over 120 lbs over the last several years. This past weekend I went in and tried on wedding dresses. I'm looking at a strapless, sweetheart neckline
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Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238
Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:ef8b10b1-63f6-4a65-94c5-c714439f87eb
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Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/7/2012 11:04 AM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
04-05-2009
ATLANTA 7917745441733656
Posts: 460
First: 1/20/2012
Last: 5/14/2012
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Hey guys,
I've managed to lose a little over 120 lbs over the last several years. This past weekend I went in and tried on wedding dresses. I'm looking at a strapless, sweetheart neckline gown to show off my new slimmer figure but I noticed that in the back it looks bad because I have all this floppy stuff that the dress pushes over the top (its like a combo upper back muffin top and upper back butt crack?!?!) I'm having plastic surgery on my arms because they look pretty saggy after the weight loss but I'm hoping I can just tone up my upper back. Does anyone have any specific exercises (that don't require a gym membership) that I can do to tone this up some?
I have over a year till the wedding (luckily) and I'd like to figure something out soon so I can start on it
Thanks
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/7/2012 1:28 PM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
01-21-2012
LOS ANGELES 9724627510222812
Posts: 2
First: 2/7/2012
Last: 2/7/2012
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Hi! Congratulations on the weight loss, that is something to be admired!
First of all I will say that you can NEVER spot reduce an area. That said, in order to get rid of that extra "chub" on your back you have to make sure that you're eating well and then you have to make sure that you are not just performing cardio but a strength training routine as well.
Strength training creates tears within the muscle in turn it repairs and grows and this uses up a lot of energy (burning more calories) even when you're at rest.
There are numerous exercises that you can perform that will tone your back so that once your fat is reduced, tight, toned muscles will show through.
Bent-Over Row
Rear Delt Flyes
Pull-Ups
Lat Pull Downs
Those are just a few exercises you can perform. Google them to see the proper form on executing each exercise. And lastly, don't use baby weights. You have to challenge yourself with heavy weights. If you have questions send me a message. :) jennyfersblog.com
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/7/2012 10:06 PM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
06-08-2008
MONTANA 9694485393440000
Posts: 3556
First: 12/23/2010
Last: 5/18/2012
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I found that one free way to hit a lot of the muscles in your back, arms and abs is to do push-ups. I have to do them on my knees since I have weak wrists, but if you do a few sets of as many as you can, you will be super sore! I have been doing 10-15 at a time, and do it about 4 times. I like to mix it in with other weight lifting stuff too.
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Chad and Fawn
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/8/2012 9:01 AM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
04-05-2009
ATLANTA 7917745441733656
Posts: 460
First: 1/20/2012
Last: 5/14/2012
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My body is fairly toned underneath the layer of flop that is leftover from the 120+ lbs weight loss. I know some of this will have to be surgically removed (my arms) but I am hoping to be able to reduce other problem areas by targeting with exercise. I run almost everyday for an hour and do strength training 3 times a week. I'm still losing, although more slowly than before (probably 2 or 3 lbs a month) but I've managed not to gain since I started losing. I honestly didn't even think about my upper back being a problem before I tried on wedding dresses.
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/8/2012 9:47 AM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
12-17-2011
DC AREA 7112597370778662
Posts: 3
First: 2/8/2012
Last: 5/2/2012
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Try interval training in lieu of steady state cardio- it's more intense and your body doesn't get used to moving at a particular pace for an hour. When I need to "lean out" I alternate 1 minute of sprints with 1 minute of fast walking or light jogging.. i.e. I'll set the treadmill at 4.0 for walk (1min), then up it to 6.0 to run (1min), back down to 4.0 (1min), up to 6.5 (1min), and so on until my peak sprint feels like my legs are going to fly off, and then i work my way back down the speed pyramid.
Also, you might want to consider keeping a food journal of absolutely everything that you eat. It's possible that if you're eating healthy, you might just be eating too much portion-wise. It's totally normal for your body to slow down weight loss after a while, especially because your body requires less calories to operate at a lower weight than at a higher one.
Hope this helps- good luck!
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/8/2012 12:23 PM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
02-02-2012
NEW YORK 9720637835921310
Posts: 52
First: 2/2/2012
Last: 5/10/2012
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First off, Congrats on that awesome amount of weight loss, a lot of people can't lose 1/10th of that.
Secondly, you probably do have well develpoed musculature underneath, like you said. I'll be completely honest, Its going to be difficult to lose that, and it might be excess skin which is the case when there is dramatic weight loss. Not much you can do about that, my sister had a similar situation.
I know thats not want you want to hear, but you still have an long time to work on it, and I know you are motivated, thats more than half the battle there. I would keep it up with the full body conditioning, including the weight lifting, but also the cardio, and like zoziku said, throw some intervals in there as well. Switch things up and keep them changing, but keep the intensity up.
You've got the drive for this, I know that, so keep it up! Again, awesome job so far.
Greg
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Re: Upper back chub?! Help
posted at 2/11/2012 3:32 PM EST
on theknot.com
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Joined on
12-05-2011
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL 9782586727430291
Posts: 102
First: 2/10/2012
Last: 5/22/2012
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Congrats on the weight loss and to everyone for the advice :) I have a question: How did you lose the weight to begin with (if you are not willing to share I completely understand)? That is just an amazing accomplishment and I am looking to begin a weight loss journey, was looking for some advice :)
Congrats again!
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